INTRODUCTION

Every day, Human beings over the earth produce more than 6 billion Kg of faecal matter. Fortunately, microbes recycle this into fertilizer which is returned to the biosphere. Unfortunately, some human populations are so dense or some Public Toilet Systems may not provide ambience to microbes that such degradation is very slow causing alarming environmental problems. It is however fortunate that new technologies are now available that have created ways to help microbes work harder. Now, most human faecal matter is processed in one of several ways viz. in sewage sludge reactors enriched with Biodegrading Products, in septic tanks enriched with Biodegrading Products or spread on soil as fertilizer enriched with Biodegrading Products.

COMPOSITION OF HUMAN EXCRETA

Normal Adult person produces and expels :
0.6–1.2 l urine/ day 
and 120–400 g wet faecal matter / day.

General composition of faecal matter is : 
7.6–7.9 g N as Uric Acid, Ammonia, Nitrites and Nitrates
1.6–1.7 g P
1.8–2.7 g K 
1.1-2.2 g Cellulose associated with Lignin,
1.0–1.1 g S 
0.75–1.5 g Ca 
0.25–0.4 g Mg 
0.18 to 1.25 g Indole (2,3-Benzopyrrole, ketole,1-benzazole)
9–16 mg Zn
1.4–1.5 mg Cu 
0.3 mg Ni
0.02–0.03 mg Cd
0.07–0.14 mg Pb 
0.01 mg Hg
and 0.8–1.1 mg B

The metals (Ca, Mg, Zn, Cu, Ni, Cd, Pb, Hg) are mainly excreted via the faecal matter and the remaining elements (N, P, K, S, B) are mainly excreted via the urine.


Residual Medications, Sanitary Napkins, Cigarette Butts, Condoms are the other waste that enter into the septic tanks which cause a considerable blockage of the piping resulting in leakages. Sometimes Hemoglobin may also be present. 

Bacterial contaminations of faecal matter may be with one or all of the following.
1. Escherichia coli
2. Pilobolus spp.
3. Vibrio cholerae
4. Salmonella typhimurium
5. Giardia lamblia

SPECIFIC TARGETS OF A BETTER SEPTIC TANK ADDITTIVE

	To be Non-corrosive, non-pathogenic,
	To be safe to handle and store
	To degrades tissue, detergents, fats, oils and grease
	To eliminate odors
	To Improve C:N ratio
	To keep septic systems trouble free
	To produce rapid system recovery
	To reduce organic loading to septic drain field
	To reduce pumping frequency
	To degrade the harmful substances and to make them harmless to the environment.

Dr Venkatesh Devanur, Director R & D, RADOSOM, a Govt of India, Dept of Scientific and Industrial Research recognized R & D Centre has recognized the situation you are in and would like to offer professional advise in this regard.